For side balancing, the 4th FG will be moving to Axis for the remaining frames.
Axis/Allied forum passwords will be updated "shortly".
It's Oct 24, 1944.
The Seventh Fleet, under Adm Kincaid remains busy providing cover for the invasion force at Leyte.
Meanwhile, Adm Halsey is taking most of the 3rd Fleet north to intercept the decoy IJN Carrier Group NE of Luzon, but has detached TF 38.3, under Adm Sherman to head west and engage what the USN has labelled the IJN Center Force under Adm Kurita.
The IJN Center Force is a major threat to the US landings. Comprised of the two Super Battleships Yamamoto and Musashi, escorted by six conventional BBs and 16 Cruisers and DDs, if it is able to cross the Sibuyan Sea and enter the Ragay Gulf it will cause havoc.
Sherman's task is daunting. By heading west he will be bringing his Task Group within easy range of the threat of the Kamikaze and conventional aircraft attack from the PI. High Frequency radio communications have been excellent for the past 24 hrs. The down side, both the Axis and Allies have been able to Direction Find (DF) each others transmissions and the positions of the opposing fleets are well understood.
TF38.3
4 x CV, 4 x BB and 16 x CA/DD
IJN Center Force
8 x BB. 16 x CA/DD
See map below for basing. Allies have no land bases and may only take-off from AI CVs. An inflight map will be available before the frame.
Planeset
Allied
2 - F6F-5, 1 - FM2
2 -TBF-1C, 1 - SBD
Axis
3 - A6M-5
2 - B5N2, 1 - D3A2, 1 – Betty --> Based at Clark Field (F1) and Nichols field (F12)
AI Kamikazes
DEST1 (grey DDs) will be standing-in for the Battleships. They will be toughened up and significantly more difficult to sink than the DDs. DEST2 (tan decks) will be representing the CAs and DDs.
Radar range will be set to 40 miles for both sides. Mid Alt 150 ft.
Bomber/Strike aircraft may use one AI wingman.
Specific objectives/limitations will be posted in the Allied/Axis forums. Axis will be provided with detailed routing of their Kamis before the frame.
Scoring
Still under development.
No points for destroying objects ashore or Kamikaze a/c.
Big points for sinking CVs, then BBs, then a lot less for CA/DDs. I will finalize and post scoring as soon as I can, but no later than 12:00 EDT on Sunday.
Any questions, fire away.
